The European Union is encouraging young, skilled Pakistanis to pursue legal pathways to Europe, emphasizing the mutual benefits of managed labor mobility as irregular migration from Pakistan declines sharply.
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, delivered this message during his first official visit to Pakistan, where he met with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and other senior officials.
“Don’t put your life into the hands of the smugglers and the human traffickers because it’s very dangerous. You can lose your life and the probability of getting asylum in the European Union is almost zero,” Brunner told The Express Tribune in an exclusive interview.
“Stick to the education, the right skills, and then find the legal ways to the European Union. We are very happy to have you legally, on a legal basis, on a legal pathway.”
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 met European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Mr. Magnus Brunner in Islamabad today.
Recalling recent engagements between Pakistan and the European Union, the DPM/FM expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in Pakistan–EU relations. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation on migration and mobility, a key pillar of the Pakistan–EU Strategic Engagement Plan (2019).
The DPM/FM highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to curb irregular migration and combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking. He stressed that these efforts should be complemented by greater opportunities for legal migration for Pakistani skilled workers and professionals. Commissioner Brunner appreciated Pakistan’s progress in curbing irregular migration and noted the scope for expanding legal pathways for migration.
The DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its partnership with the European Union. He expressed the hope that Commissioner Brunner’s visit would lead to practical outcomes that benefit both sides.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 13, 2026
Talent Partnership Falling Short
Brunner acknowledged that the EU’s Talent Partnership with Pakistan has yet to meet expectations. “We haven’t achieved enough, I think,” he said, noting that a key purpose of his visit was to better align the skills of young Pakistanis with labor shortages in European economies.
He praised Pakistan’s broader strategy of developing legal labor mobility arrangements globally, singling out its successful programs with South Korea as a positive example. “In general, I think Pakistan does a very good job in strategically looking into legal pathways all over the world, but also toward the European Union,” Brunner observed.
Across the EU, irregular arrivals have dropped by roughly 55 percent over the past two years following a series of policy reforms driven by sustained political pressure.
Good meeting with @ChSalikHussain.
We discussed safe and legal pathways that match the skills the European labour market needs. Legal pathways and tackling illegal migration go hand in hand.
Next, a Talent Partnership Roundtable in January. https://t.co/OWPJlgfMKM
— Magnus Brunner (@magnusbrunner) October 13, 2026
Demographic Pressures and Labor Needs
Europe’s aging population and resulting labor shortages make legal migration essential, Brunner explained. “The people get older each year, and that’s why we need, of course, legal migration for our labor markets.”
The central challenge remains matching the skills available in partner countries like Pakistan with the specific jobs European economies need to fill.
Data compiled by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Pakistan, Europe Census figures, and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) reveal a vibrant Pakistani community in Europe, with approximately 854,065 nationals contributing to Europe’s economic development as of early 2023.
Of these, roughly 512,196 were male and 341,869 female. Broader UN and IOM estimates place the overall number closer to 950,000, and in some counts above one million when the United Kingdom and other regional tallies are included. Europe accounts for about 15 percent of all Pakistani emigrants worldwide.
Irregular Arrivals Plummet
High-level bilateral figures released in October 2026 point to a decisive shift away from irregular routes toward organized labor mobility. Irregular border crossings by Pakistani nationals fell by 64 percent over the preceding 18 months, declining to around 440 cases in the most recent reporting period, according to Frontex Border Agency data verified in October 2026.
Asylum applications lodged within the EU+ system totaled 28,000 over a 12-month period, with monthly volumes dropping from a peak of 3,400 to approximately 1,900, according to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). Italy remains the primary intended destination within the EU, followed by France, Greece, and Germany.
Economic pressures inside Pakistan, including persistent inflation, have driven more than two million citizens to leave the country over a two-year span. An increasing share of this outflow consists of highly qualified professionals—doctors, IT specialists, engineers, and corporate managers—heading toward Western Europe and the United Kingdom.
Yesterday at the EU HOME affairs ministers meeting, we discussed our European migration policy reform. Our foundation is the Pact, and we are building on it: a stronger Frontex, an active migration diplomacy and the new European Emergency Response Framework. https://t.co/HhCPRX73gv
— Magnus Brunner (@magnusbrunner) October 2, 2026
Visa Access and Document Quality
To manage this movement more effectively, the EU and Pakistan have intensified high-level diplomatic engagement. The EU has broadened its Talent Partnership framework so that skilled Pakistani workers can be matched directly with labor shortages across member states. Parallel circular-migration schemes are being developed to create clear, legitimate channels for professionals, helping to overcome earlier obstacles such as the nearly 50 percent Schengen visa refusal rate previously highlighted by the EU migration commissioner.
Brunner said the EU must improve access to legal migration channels while also noting that the quality of supporting documents submitted by Pakistani visa applicants needs to rise. “We have to do a better job there as a European Union,” he stated. Refusal rates for Schengen visas from Pakistan currently stand at nearly 50 percent, a figure he described as excessive. Improving document quality, he said, is essential so that both partners can reduce refusals and work more effectively together.
He also acknowledged the practical difficulties many Pakistanis face when trying to obtain appointments for Schengen visa applications. “Sometimes it’s a bit frustrating, I suppose, for Pakistanis who want to travel legally to the European Union,” he said. Although individual member states retain primary responsibility for issuing visas, the European Commission is using its visa strategy to improve coordination among capitals and make the overall process faster and more efficient.
€5 MILLION FOR BORDER SECURITY. WHAT ABOUT JOBS?
EU Commissioner @magnusbrunner visits Pakistan, praising a 64% drop in irregular migration.
Islamabad wants more legal jobs in Europe.
– Should Brussels invest equally in legal migration?
#eudebates #Pakistan #Migration #migration— euDebates.tv (@eudebates) October 13, 2026
Curbing Irregular Migration
Brunner pointed to clear progress already achieved through cooperation. The number of Pakistanis arriving irregularly in the EU has fallen by more than 50 percent. Pakistani officials told the commissioner during his visit that the drop has been even steeper—64 percent over the past 18 months.
“The numbers are good, they are going down. We see a decrease of Pakistanis coming illegally to the European Union of more than 50 percent, which is great news,” Brunner said.
He emphasized that bringing irregular migration under control creates the political space needed in Europe for constructive debate on legal migration. “It is so important for the public perception to get the illegal part right in order to give also more room for a serious discussion on legal pathways,” the commissioner explained.
Most Dangerous Routes and Life-Saving Cooperation
Brunner identified the journey that begins in Pakistan and Bangladesh, continues through Gulf states, Egypt, and Libya, and ends in Italy or Greece as currently the most hazardous. Large numbers of people lose their lives on this corridor. Pakistan is an active partner in the EU’s Eastern Corridor Initiative, which targets irregular migration and human smuggling along the route.
“A lot of Pakistanis have lost their lives actually, and that’s what it’s about… to save lives,” the commissioner said.
Readmission Agreement Progress
Cooperation under the existing EU-Pakistan readmission agreement is advancing, Brunner reported, although further improvement is possible. Current return rates stand at approximately 30 percent—generally acceptable, yet still capable of being raised. Pakistani authorities gave him a firm assurance that the country will continue to accept the return of its nationals found to be residing illegally in the European Union.
Shared Fight Against Terrorism
On security, Brunner described counterterrorism as a common objective. Violence and radicalization inside Pakistan can have consequences far beyond its borders, he noted. The European Union is fully committed to supporting Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism and radicalization.
“We do everything to support Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and also radicalization. This is our common goal.”
When asked about the safety of Muslim communities in Europe amid concerns over Islamophobia and racism, Brunner referred to the EU’s internal security strategy. Authorities must protect all residents and prevent the misuse of religion that can lead to radicalization and extremism, he said.
Diplomatic Praise for Islamabad’s Peace Role
During the visit, Brunner also praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Iran and the United States, describing Islamabad’s intermediary role as significant.
“Pakistan has shown that the role of Pakistan is really important. And to be the middleman between those two, I think, is really important,” he said. “I trust totally the Pakistani government. They’re doing everything they can to bring peace and this is what we as Europeans, of course, support.”
Kiran Asim is a writer who covers the U.S., Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East. Her reports and analyses look at the geostrategic issues and contemporary developments and their economic and political implications. She also writes about society and education.
